SPORTS, FUN, FOOD, LAUGHTER AND CHEERS AT “PUNJABI
SPORTS FESTIVAL 2010”

CINCINNATI KABADDI TEAM WINS PCS CHICAGO CHAMPIONSHIP
“CHICAGO NO RESPECT” CLINCHES BASKETBALL CUP

Chicago, July 24, 2010
Mr.Raj mago

Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (P.C.S.) had its 16th annual two day sports festival on July 17 & 18, 2010 at Community Park in Addison Illinois. The theme was healthier life style with focus on fitness.

The admission, food, and unlimited bottled water were free at this Punjabi Community of Chicago’s annual fun fair “Punjabi Sports Festival 2010.” More than 300 athletes took part in the tournament and more than 500 spectators enjoyed the games from under three large tents set up in the park. The weather was fair all day except a few minutes of down pour when the matches had to be suspended.

Fourteen Basketball teams, six Volleyball teams, four Kabaddi teams, and four soccer teams took part in the sports competition along with children who signed up at the spot for races. The players came from Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois.

The Cincinnati Kabaddi team won the $1100 cash prize sponsored by Punjabi Truck Union Chicago, and the P.C.S. Kabaddi Championship Cup sponsored by Mickey Kahlon. The P.C.O. Milwaukee Kabaddi Team won the runners-up cup and $500 cash prize sponsored by Balwinder Singh Girn and Amritpal Singh Sangha.

The P.C.S. Basketball tournament was played indoors on July 17.

“Chicago No Respect” basketball team won the first place $500 cash prize and the P.C.S. Basketball Championship Cup sponsored by Jarnail Singh Lail in loving memory of Kehar Singh Lail. The basketball runners-up cup and $250 cash second prize sponsored by Nimrata K. Singh went to “Punjabi Eruptions.”

The juniors basketball championship was won by PCS-1 team by defeating Chi-Town Ballers. The first prize was sponsored by Amarjit Atwal and the second prize was sponsored by Vimlan Tax Service.

The “Shawn Sinners” soccer team won the P.C.S. Soccer Cup & $500 cash award sponsored by Rajinder Singh Bains and Mandeep Singh Bhura. The soccer runners-up cup and $250 cash second place award was sponsored by Lakhvir Singh & Jasvir Singh Sahota and the runners-up were “Midwest United” soccer team.

The “Tony’s Lions” won the P.C.S. Volleyball Championship Cup by beating “Illinois Sikh Community Woodridge” team who became the runners-up. The volleyball cup and $500 cash prize was sponsored by Sarwan Singh Tiwana. The volleyball runners-up cup and $250 cash award was sponsored by Midwest Physical Therapy.

In track and field athletics, the 50 meter 5-7 year old children’s race, first place went to Ekam S. Tiwana and second place Harleen K. Uppal. The 50 meter 8-11 year children’s race, first place Jaskirandeep S. Randhawa and the second place Mrigant Dayal.

Gurkamal Grewal won the 100 meter 12-15 years old boys race.

The 100 meter 12-15 years girls race first place winner was Manpreet Bhalla. In the 100 meter 16 plus years males, Lakhbir Singh took the first place and Krishanpal Singh Chhabra of Palatine was second. Mona Bhalla and Simran Bhalla came in second in the three-legged race for women.

The ceremonial inauguration ceremonies of the festival were performed by the State Senator Dan Rutherford and past mayor of village of Palatine Rita Mullins along with several other dignitaries and PCS officials including PCS chairperson Mohina Ahluwalia.

Maintaining their 16 years old festival tradition the participants paraded the grounds with Punjabi Dhol drum beats and Bhangra music. The festival was declared open by Rita Mullins by releasing a colorful bunch of helium balloons after a prayer song and American National Anthem.

“Count down, 10, 9, 8,…3,2,1, Let the games begin,” roared Rita Mullins, “maintaining a good health and healthy life style is the right thing to do,” she added.

“I welcome all the athletes and the spectators, may you all win by keeping good health. I request  our ladies to come forward and be more active in sports,” said Mrs. Mohina Ahluwalia PCS Chairperson.

All including the dignitaries celebrated the opening ceremonies with “Bhangra Aerobics.”

This all day community event included many fun games for women and children as well. In addition to Kabaddi, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Bhangra aerobics, races for women and children in various age groups were also held. Children’s fun games were organized by Amarjit K. Atwal and Mona Bhalla.

Vimlan Tax Services, Panache Fashions, Aggarwal Inc. set up their product display booths. The DJ music was provided by Sun-shine DJ Rishpal Singh, photography by Gurmit Singh Dhillon and food was catered by K.K. Pamma of New India Restaurant.

The program was sponsored by Punjabi Truck Union Chicago, Jodh Singh, Minder Bhathal, Gurmit Singh Bath, Talvinder Bhathal, Sher Singh Shergill, Jagdev Singh Khaira, Darshan Singh Basran, Pritam Singh, Ravinderpal Singh Hanjra, Jaidev Singh Bhathal (Punjab Auto Werks), Mickey Kahlon, Nick Gakhal, Jarnail Singh Lail, Balwinder Singh Girn, Parminder Singh Ghotra, Sarwan Singh Tiwana, Rajinder Singh Bains, Mandeep Singh Bhura, Baldev Singh Bagri, Harjinder Singh Sandhu (Sandhu Petroleum), Sukhmel Singh Atwal, Amarjit Kaur Atwal, Midwest Physical Therapy, Nimrata K. Singh, Vimlan Tax Service, Jasbir Singh and Surinder Singh Palia, Lakhbir Singh Sandhu, Thakar Singh Basati, Lakhvir Singh Sahota and Jasvir Singh Sahota (Western Transport), Amarjit Singh Dhindsa, Jagjit Singh Dhindsa, Sawaran Singh Sekhon, and Amrit Pal Singh Sangha.

The festival was organized by Mohina Ahluwalia, Rajinder Singh Mago, Balwinder singh Girn, Surinder Singh Sangha, Baljit Singh Sidhu, Parminder Singh Ghotra, Pardeep Singh Deol, Kevindeep Singh Atwal, Mohinderjit Singh Saini, Onkar Singh Sangha, Sukhmel Singh Atwal, Amarjit Kaur Atwal, Sunny Kular, Ronny Kular, Bhinder Singh Pamma, Paul Lail, Jasbir Singh Palia, Yadwinder Singh Grewal, Navrang Bajwa, Ankit Multani, Robin Ghotra, Bharpoor Singh, Subhash Singh, Raghvinder Singh Mahal, Gurmit Singh Bath, and Mona Bhalla amongst many others.

The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is a not-for-profit community service organization devoted to promoting healthy life style and sports, education, good citizenship, Punjabi culture, language, and performing arts, in the metropolitan Chicago area.

Games in progress at “Punjabi Sports Festival 2010” organized by Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago on July 17 & 18, 2010 at Community Park in Addison Illinois. More than 300 athletes participated and more than 500 spectators attended the festival.

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